PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royal Vasquez (ranked 6906 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Heath (ranked 6202 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Vasquez
vs
Heath

189 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Royal Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Heath !
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Heath shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Heath was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Vasquez trying to remain calm as Heath controls from the top position.

Heath is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vasquez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Heath is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vasquez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Heath working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez is not content to let Heath control the position.
Heath remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Vasquez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heath is trying to get an arm triangle but Vasquez is defending well.
The referee asks Heath politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Heath prefers to stall for the moment though.
Vasquez keeps Heath under control for a moment.

Heath is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vasquez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vasquez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Heath 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Heath is looking to take a break and control but Vasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vasquez is trying to control but Heath manages to pass to mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Heath fails to move to back control.
Heath controlling the position easily from mount.
Vasquez is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath controlling from the full mount.

Heath working for a submission but Vasquez is keeping him at bay.
Vasquez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Heath takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Heath swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Vasquez is now in Heath 's guard. A big mistake from Heath there, giving up the dominant position!
Heath wants to control but Vasquez passes easily into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez wants to stand but Heath has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Vasquez is controlling the pace.
Vasquez lands with a punch from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Heath wants to improve his position but Vasquez is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Heath dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Heath shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Heath was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Vasquez is trying to control Heath 's posture but Heath avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Heath goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Vasquez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Heath but great work by Vasquez.
Heath tries to bench press Vasquez off him but Vasquez keeps the position.
Josh Heath has got the better of the ground game so far.
Heath is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Heath is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vasquez pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez tries to stand but can't do so whilst Heath controls his leg.
Vasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vasquez wants to stand up but Heath has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Heath manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Heath wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Vasquez is now in half guard.

Heath actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Heath wants to get back to full guard.

Vasquez moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Heath .
Vasquez throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Heath works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Heath is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vasquez is working away from the top position though.
Heath has a hand on Vasquez's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Vasquez takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Heath is in all sorts of trouble here.

Vasquez is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Heath closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Heath lands in his opponent's guard.
Heath is breathing heavily.

Heath is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vasquez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vasquez has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Heath is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Heath looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Vasquez stands up from Heath 's guard - Vasquez perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royal Vasquez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Heath swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasquez.
Nice defenses there by Vasquez.

Vasquez moves into range and clinches up with Heath .
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Heath looking to stall.
Heath is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.

Heath gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vasquez.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Heath from controlling successfully.
Vasquez trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heath stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vasquez working a defensive guard here.
Vasquez is really struggling to control Heath but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Heath looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vasquez is trying to keep Heath in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Heath closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vasquez quickly recovers to half guard.
Vasquez is looking to control Heath 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vasquez avoid being mounted?

Vasquez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Vasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Heath .
Heath is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Heath wants to work for an arm triangle but Vasquez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Heath takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vasquez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Heath is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Heath wants to free his trapped foot but Vasquez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Heath is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vasquez sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vasquez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Heath from controlling successfully.
Heath being controlled here momentarily.
Vasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Heath engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Heath from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Heath comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Heath has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Heath !
After winning the bout, Josh Heath thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.